Sailor of Merritt

Angelino Sandri offers an authentic Venetian gondola tour with no overseas plane trip required. Since 1999, his Gondola Servizio has given rides—and insights into the storied history of Italy’s most romantic of cities—on Oakland’s Lake Merritt.

Early Aptitude

Sandri is the real deal: He was born in Italy and spent summers in Venice. Through friends he met while “rowing for fun,” he landed a part-time gig as a bona fide Venetian gondolier.

Office Space

Sandri and his wife and co-owner, California native April Quinn, had their boats hand-made in Venice and shipped to the Port of Oakland. The Italian government closely monitors the historical accuracy of gondolas, so each is built to a specific code that regulates the size, weight, and type of wood (eight different kinds, laid in precise order).

Necessary Training

The unique one-oared rowing required to propel a gondola is an awkward skill that took Sandri months to learn. Singing came more naturally: He is an amateur musician who occasionally plays traditional Italian and modern folk tunes in local restaurants.

Safety Hazards

Sandri claims (and we have no evidence to the contrary) that he’s never been dunked. Not so for a gondolier friend of his in Venice, where surrounding motorboat traffic can make for a trickier ride. “His nickname was gatto bagnato, which means ‘wet cat,’ because he fell in three times in one day.”

FAQs

A lot of customers are curious about the gondola’s backstory, and Sandri is happy to oblige. He sees his role as a sort of U.S. caretaker of the more than 1,000-year history of Italy’s City of Water, and takes special pride in sharing that lineage—especially to skeptical husbands and boyfriends who might be expecting “just some goofy guy who sings songs.”

Just Another Day at the Office

Sandri has witnessed numerous marriages and proposals, and his customers reflect the diversity of Oakland. “We’ve done weddings with two brides. One time I had a Jewish woman getting married to a Nigerian man. Each of them brought their own traditions; I just had to ask them not to break a glass under their feet on the boat.”

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Faces

Neiman Marcus Walnut Creek hosted a fashion show in collaboration with Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation. The intimate gathering at the upscale store included mouthwatering bites, champagne, and a runway show featuring several special-occasion looks. Proceeds from the soiree support the work being done by Always Dream to advance early childhood literacy.

This popular Oakland fest drew droves of foodies who craved street eats and sweets from more than 50 of the Bay Area’s finest food purveyors—plus cocktails, wine, and craft beer from various local vendors. Benefiting the Food Craft Institute, the three-day extravaganza in Jack London Square also featured music, special culinary classes, and activities for kids.

The Monument Crisis Center feted its 15 years with a lively commemoration that featured delicious fare, drinks, and music at its Concord facility. In honor
of the milestone, the organization also started a matching campaign to raise $15,000 for its numerous programs that support low-income families and
individuals in Contra Costa County.

Save Mount Diablo hosted its signature fundraising gala at the China Wall formation in Mount Diablo State Park, garnering more than $460,000 for the preservation of open spaces. More than 500 guests enjoyed a three-course dinner, wine, entertainment, and auctions while taking in majestic views.

This popular Oakland fest drew droves of foodies who craved street eats and sweets from more than 50 of the Bay Area’s finest food purveyors—plus cocktails, wine, and craft beer from various local vendors. Benefiting the Food Craft Institute, the three-day extravaganza in Jack London Square also featured music, special culinary classes, and activities for kids.

Professional golfers, local celebrities, and athletes—such as Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry—competed at this annual golf tournament held at the TPC Stonebrae Country Club in Hayward. Hosted by the Pleasanton-based mortgage software company Ellie Mae, the weeklong event raised roughly $150,000 for several charities, including the Warriors Community Foundation, which offers education and development programs to underprivileged students around the Bay Area.

The Pleasanton-based Tyler’s Grace Foundation feted its fifth anniversary by hosting a fundraising gala at the Diablo Country Club, where nearly 300 guests gathered to enjoy cocktails, an elegant dinner, auctions, music, and dancing. Proceeds from the benefit will support 30 families affected by cancer.

The 2018 Taste of Oakland festival series in Jack London Square celebrated the unique musicians, culinary talents, and technological innovation coming out of Oakland and the Bay Area. The event benefited Youth Aid Nonprofit, a charity that provides free summer camps and music lessons and teaches
business fundamentals to local youths.

To raise funds for Diablo Ballet and its educational PEEK Outreach Programs, 280 people sipped, savored, and strolled their way through downtown Walnut Creek, where several businesses served special drinks and culinary creations
to attendees. business fundamentals to local youths.

The Oakland Zoo celebrated the grand opening of its 56-acre California Trail expansion with cake, refreshments, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests were treated to a first look at the new permanent exhibition, which re-creates habitats for eight native California species, including the jaguar, grizzly bear, and gray wolf. Twenty-five years in the making, the California Trail aims to highlight the Golden State’s natural history while also promoting wildlife conservation.

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano hosted its biggest bash of the year at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo, where more than 200 guests gathered for cocktails and a silent auction before enjoying a three-course dinner with wine. The annual fundraiser supported the Community Produce Program, which provides about 250,000 pounds of produce each month to people in need.